SOLUTION: An airplane flies out of New Orleans to Atlanta at a rate of 320 mph. It returns at a rate of 280mph. The total travel time is 3 hours. How long did it take to get to Atlanta.

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Question 1017201: An airplane flies out of New Orleans to Atlanta at a rate of 320 mph. It returns at a rate of 280mph. The total travel time is 3 hours. How long did it take to get to Atlanta.
Found 2 solutions by FrankM, Alan3354:
Answer by FrankM(1040) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Flying X miles at 320M/H should be shown as
%28X+miles%29%281+hour%2F320miles%29 as the above will give time as a result, i.e %28X%2F320%29+hours
Since the distance is the same, the return trip was
%28X+miles%29%281+hour%2F280miles%29 as the above will give time as a result, i.e %28X%2F280%29+hours
and
%28%28X%2F320%29+hours%29%2B%28%28X%2F280%29+hours%29=3
multiply thru by 2240
%28%282240X%2F320%29+hours%29%2B%28%282240X%2F280%29+hours%29=6720

%28%287X%29%29%2B%28%288X%29%29=6720
%2815X%29=6720
X= 448
The distance each way was 448 miles.
%28448+miles%29%281hr%2F320miles%29=1.4hrs
Note, the average speed is not 300. Half the distance was spent at 320, half at 280, but not half the time.

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
An airplane flies out of New Orleans to Atlanta at a rate of 320 mph. It returns at a rate of 280mph. The total travel time is 3 hours. How long did it take to get to Atlanta.
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Avg speed = 2*320*280/(320+280) = 896/3 mi/hr
Total time = 3 hrs
RT distance = 896 miles --> 448 mi each way
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Time to ATL = 448/320
= 1.4 hours